09/09/2026
OPEN MIC THIS WEDNESDAY AND A SPECIAL JAZZY PUB NITE THURSDAY! DON'T MISS OUT!
The Eastern Shore Jazz Ensemble brings together a talented group of musicians from Maryland and Delaware who share a passion for playing, celebrating and exploring jazz, one of America’s most distinctive musical art forms.
The ensemble’s repertoire spans an impressive range of styles, including classic jazz standards, music of the 1960s and ’70s, bebop and contemporary funk jazz. By combining familiar melodies with lesser-known selections and fresh arrangements, the group creates a lively and distinctive sound that brings new energy to music from across the decades.
The current lineup features Quinn Parsley on guitar, Dave James on trumpet, Ashley Watkins on flute, Julie Parsons on piano, Chris Levey on bass and Scott Hartman on drums. Together, they bring an unusually diverse collection of musical backgrounds, experiences and influences to the stage.
Guitarist Quinn Parsley is the owner of the Parsley School of Music and a gifted multi-instrumentalist who performs and teaches guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, mandolin, banjo, ukulele and other instruments. A graduate of Salisbury University with a degree in classical guitar, Quinn has worked as a session musician and live performer throughout Delmarva, Annapolis and the Washington, D.C. area. His experience also includes performing in pit orchestras at Salisbury University, Washington College and the Museum of the Bible.
Trumpeter Dave James earned his degree in music performance from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and spent much of his career performing throughout Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, D.C. His appearances have included the Kennedy Center, the Old Post Office Pavilion and DC Space, and he has performed alongside such notable jazz musicians as Cat Anderson, Carl Grubbs, Jimmy Heath and Cab Calloway, as well as the Whit Williams Big Band.
Flutist Ashley Watkins is a professional musician based in Cambridge, Maryland. She has performed at venues throughout the region, including Salisbury University, The Avalon, Howard University and The Reach at the Kennedy Center. In addition to performing, Ashley maintains a private flute studio and continues to accept engagements throughout the area.
Pianist Julie Parsons brings an extraordinary international background to the ensemble, having performed in dozens of countries and in venues ranging from major concert halls to intimate living rooms. Her career has included live television appearances on Star Search, Spotlight and the European Song Contest in Tel Aviv. She has released several recordings and received honors from the Washington Area Music Association and the New York Pro Am Song Contest.
Drummer Scott Hartman has performed with community bands, Latin ensembles and church groups in both Hawaii and Maryland. He currently plays in a Jazz Band Masterclass combo directed by Jeff Antoniuk in Annapolis, where he continues to explore and develop his knowledge of the jazz tradition.
With Chris Levey anchoring the group on bass, the Eastern Shore Jazz Ensemble offers audiences an engaging musical journey filled with memorable melodies, creative arrangements and the spontaneous energy that makes live jazz so exciting. See less
